Interesting Model T engines

tselliott · Post by **tselliott** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 7:34 pm

Here are a couple of interesting Model T engines that were used for fire fighting. The thing I found interesting about them are the heads. Obviously they were made specifically for this application as they have no outlet to a radiator. The other thing I find interesting is that they appear to have some kind of oil pump on the front of them which are piped to the side of the block. I would doubt they are pressurized crank and rods. It seems as if they have nozzles aimed at the rods. Trying to help out the splash oiling. No hogsheads, but again interesting flywheel covers. Not sure what they would have been using for ignition. The water pumps are missing but overall a neat piece of history. Cast bases made in Longview Washington.
I thought you all would be interested in seeing them.
I wish there were more and better pictures.
Craigslist link provided and I will post the pictures.

https://portland.craigslist.org/clc/pts ... 90513.html

Post by **John kuehn** » Fri Jan 22, 2021 8:34 pm

Wow! Those are neat! It’s a wonder they survived all these years. Lots of T engines and parts wound up in salvage yards. These didn’t.

Post by **Craig Leach** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 10:54 am

Very interesting. Looks like they must have had magnito ignition driven off the cam gear. If they where used for fire pumps they would use pump water scavanged off the the fire stream to cool the engine. Most fire apparatus (trucks ) use the engine for both transportation and pumping the fire stream.
Could these have come out of a boat or a early structural fire suppression system? They could be used for irrigation or water supply? Could be some real history there. Thanks.
Craig.

Post by **Harry Lillo** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:08 am

A very cool find.
If not already sold, I wonder if they should end up in the Model T Museum?
Harry

Post by **RichJ** » Sat Jan 23, 2021 11:24 am

Darn good idea / suggestion !!!

Post by **Gary_in_MN** » Tue Feb 02, 2021 4:27 pm

I have had this aluminium head for a long time, even had a adapter made so I could run it on a "T" . Never did the combustion chamber looks even larger than stock. Rajo 8 valve, Rajo 4 valve and a DePaul 8 valve pushed this head to the shelf.

The top outlet " keep overflow warm" matches the engines in the original post. I do recall a photo of a portable "T" being carried to the lake in order to pump water to the firetruck . The "T" exhaust manifold has no threads, but it is machined to accept a pipe, I often thought this would be a possible match for the head. Gary in MN.